lgbt community Archives - The LGBT Sentinel

Doing Just Fine Inside The Closet

Published on October 13, 2017 in Opinion

It’s that time of year again—the season when LGBTQ+ people are called upon to identify themselves to the masses. National Coming Out Day, October 11th, has just passed. In addition, the entire month has been dedicated to leaving the closet behind. Ever since I recognized my own queerness, I’ve felt uncomfortable on NCOD. But to be fair, it’s an event with a history we can all be proud of. The concept of “coming out” dates back to the 1800s, when early German advocates like Karl Heinrich Ulrichs and Magnus Hirschfeld promoted self-disclosure as a means of working towards equity for…

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October: Coming Out

Published on October 13, 2017 in Opinion

Coming out of the closet is probably the biggest step in any LGBT individual’s life. For many, it is a freeing feeling that they have desired for a long time, and some may not believe they will ever get there. No matter what you decide to do, it is important to keep in mind that coming out is YOUR decision and nobody else’s. You need to do it at a time in your life and with people that make you comfortable. Do not ever feel pressured to come out if you feel you are not ready. For those of you…

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Will & Grace: For Us

Published on October 3, 2017 in Uncategorized

Nearly two decades ago, Will & Grace took television by storm. The premises focuses on two best friends, a gay male and straight female, living together and experiencing daily antics. At this time, in 1998, LGBT representation on television was scarce. Will became a leading character that was loved not only by the gay community, but by those in the straight community as well. The show was largely relatable because it shed light on the dynamic of their friendship. Over the 8-year run, Will & Grace would prove to promote tolerance of those in the LGBT community. The audience got…

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Going Back Into The Closet: Retirement

Published on September 27, 2017 in Blog/Real Talk/Weekly

Partners of many years, Christopher Ross and Allan Keech are both 68-years-old. As they approach the typical challenges that must be faced with age such as health issues and retirement, they must also cope with discrimination. Upon their search for an appropriate retirement community, they have found them all to not have valid resources for including those in the LGBTQ community. Keech expressed that many gay people decide to go back into the closet during this time because of not wanting to feel ostracized. Both Ross and his partner Keech are not alone. Les Geller of the LGBT Center of…

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We Happy Trans

Published on September 25, 2017 in Real Talk/The-Nation/Weekly

If you don’t look for it, it can be hard to find positive news about trans people in the U.S. and beyond. It’s a negative news cycle that’s warranted: Research organizations like the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs have shown that 50% of transgender people have survived sexual violence, that almost 80% of gender nonconforming youth have experienced bullying and abuse at school, and that trans women and trans people of color continue to be murdered and harassed by police at higher rates than any other group on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. There’s no doubt that these are important facts for…

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LGBT Tears Into Trump’s U.N. Speech

Published on September 20, 2017 in Blog/Real Talk/The-Nation/Weekly

As predicted, LGBT foreign policy experts have weighed in on Donald Trump’s recent U.N. speech – The result is not favorable. During this speech, Trump taunted terrorists, calling them losers. He also denounced “rogue nations” and vowed to “totally destroy North Korea.” Trump stressed the importance of sovereignty from all of the independent nations to lead to ultimate success. He claimed that this would be the basis for cooperation. He also stated that he does not expect other countries to uphold our same cultures, norms, and values. Finding this statement troublesome, LGBT groups fear that this emphasis on sovereignty would…

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From LA To NYC: DragCon With Holly 2017

Published on September 14, 2017 in Blog/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Weekly

Five months ago, during his Keynote speech at the end of an incredible two days of RuPaul’s DragCon in Los Angeles, RuPaul instructed us to pack up our lashes and tuck tape, as they would be flying to New York City for the first ever East Coast DragCon. After an overwhelming response resulted in an early date change, this past weekend it finally happened, and of course, I flew across the country to be there. After L.A. DragCon completely exceeded all my expectations, the idea of an East Coast Con was exciting, but felt a journey into the unknown. L.A.…

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Biphobia: It Happens Here Too

Published on September 7, 2017 in Blog/Real Talk/Weekly

We all know what homophobia, the dislike and non acceptance of the gay and lesbian communities, looks like; hate crimes, discrimination in work, marriage, health care, adoption, etc. But one secret of the LGBT community that is rarely discussed among heterosexuals and homosexuals alike is biphobia, the dislike and non acceptance of the bisexual community. Some define “bisexual” as the attraction to both men and women, while some simply label it as an attraction to multiple sexes or genders. Either way, it is no secret, or it should not be a secret, that biphobia has a strong place in the…

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Hurricane Harvey: Who’s Affected?

Published on September 5, 2017 in Real Talk/The-Nation/Weekly

All of us. That’s the answer. On Monday, in response to a Politico article linking Hurricane Harvey to climate change, conservative TV personality Ann Coulter tweeted the following: “I don’t believe Hurricane Harvey is God’s punishment for Houston electing a lesbian mayor. But that is more credible than ‘climate change.’” — Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) Of course! How could we have thought that the worst rainstorm in U.S. history was caused by an unwillingness to take climate change seriously, when it’s clearly just God’s way of putting Houston in a time-out for electing a qualified official who happens to be gay?…

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RuPaul’s Drag Race Emmy Nomination: Why It’s Important

Published on August 14, 2017 in Entertainment/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Real Talk/The-Nation/Weekly

RuPaul’s Drag Race has been a favorite of many members of the LGBT community for nine seasons now. The show has won several awards in years past, including those from The Television Critics Association Awards, NewNowNext Awards, MTV Movie + TV Awards, Gold Derby Award, GLAAD Media Award, and a PRimetime Emmy. The Emmy win last year was for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program. Now, it has the chance to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, which in years past has gone to The Amazing Race (10), Top Chef (1), and The Voice…

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